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A child look at paintings of President Barack Obama, (r.), and former South African President Nelson Mandela, outside the Mediclinic Heart Hospital where Nelson Mandela is being treated in Pretoria, South Africa Saturday. Obama encouraged leaders in Africa and around the world to follow Mandela’s example of country before self, before paying personal respects to relatives who have been gathered around the critically ill anti-apartheid icon. Ben Curtis/AP

JOHANNESBURG

US President Barack Obama met the family of SouthAfrica‘s ailing anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela on Saturday and he praised the critically ill, retired statesman as one of history’s greatest figures.

The faltering health of Mandela, 94, a figure admired globally as a symbol of struggle against injustice and racism, is dominating Obama’s two-day visit to SouthAfrica.

But Obama also faced protests by South Africans against US foreign policy, especially American drone strikes.

Police fired stun grenades on Saturday to disperse several hundred protesters who had gathered outside the Soweto campus of the University of Johannesburg, where Obama was due to address a town hall meeting with students.

Obama, in SouthAfrica on the second leg of a three-nation Africa tour, met Mandela relatives to deliver a message of support instead of directly visiting the former president at the hospital where he has spent the last three weeks.

Obama told reporters afterwards he also spoke by telephone with Mandela’s wife Graca Machel, who remained by her husband’s side in the hospital in Pretoria.

“I expressed my hope that Madiba draws peace and comfort from the time that he is spending with loved ones, and also expressed my heartfelt support for the entire family as they work through this difficult time,” he said, using the clan name Madiba by which Mandela is affectionately known.

Obama earlier had talks with South African President Jacob Zuma and the two held a joint news conference in which Zuma said Mandela remained in a “critical but stable condition”.

Obama’s visit to SouthAfrica had stirred intense speculation that the first African-American president of theUnited States would look in on the first black president of SouthAfrica in his hospital room.

But Mandela’s deterioration in the last week to a critical condition forced the White House to rule out the possibility of Obama and his wife seeing the frail ex-statesman.

Speaking to reporters at Pretoria‘s Union Buildings, where Mandela was inaugurated as president in 1994, Obama said the prayers of millions around the world were with the Nobel Peace laureate, who lay just one km (mile) away in hospital.

Adding to his previous praise of Mandela, Obama likened him to first US president George Washington because of the decision of both to step down at the peak of their power.

“What an incredible lesson that is,” Obama said, calling Mandela “one of the greatest people in history”.

Obama had said on Thursday he did not “need a photo op” with Mandela, whom he met in 2005 in Washington when he was a US senator.

“BOUND BY HISTORY”

After holding talks with Obama, Zuma said Mandela’s critical condition was unchanged. “We hope that very soon he will be out of hospital,” he added, without giving further details.

In welcoming Obama, Zuma underscored the historical similarities between Mandela and his US guest in overcoming decades of institutionalised racism and discrimination to rise to the highest political office.

“The two of you are also bound by history as the first black presidents of your respective countries,” Zuma said. “You both carry the dreams of the millions of people in Africa and the diaspora.”

On Sunday, Obama flies to Cape Town from which he will visit Robben Island, the windswept former penal colony in the frigid waters of the south Atlantic where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in apartheid jails.

Zuma said Mandela had told him before his latest hospitalisation that “when I go to sleep I will be very happy because I left SouthAfrica going forward”.

Milwaukee Bucks players Ekpe Udoh and Doron Lamb did some coloring with 2-year-old Everlyn Cannon (above) during a visit to Children’s Hospital by the entire Bucks team and coaching staff. The team made the visit to spread a little holiday cheer during their annual visit with patients at the MACC Fund Center for Cancer for Cancer and Blood Disorders at the hospital. The visit came nearly 36 years to the day after the founding of the MACC Fund on Dec. 10, 1976, during halftime of a Bucks game when Jon McGlocklin’s jersey number 14 was retired. As part of this year’s visit, Sam’s Hope will donated over 400 new books for the Bucks to distribute to the children. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)

A New York City-area homeless man got a visit from Santa this year, but he was dressed like a police officer.

PEOPLEreports that when NYPD officer Larry DePrimo encountered a barefoot, homeless man on his Times Square patrol on

the cold night of Nov. 14, the policeman went to a nearby Skechers store–where a store employee used his staff discount to cut the price to $75–bought a pair of $100 boots and presented them to the man.

Coincidentally, Jennifer Foster, a tourist from Florence, Ariz., captured the moment with a cellphone photo. She emailed it to the NYPD, which then posted the shot on its Facebook page.

As a result of his generosity, the 25-year-old Long Island native, who joined the force two years ago has become a hero and an internet sensation.

PEOPLE also reports that as of Wednesday night, the post had been viewed 1.6 million times, and by the following morning had drawn nearly 350,000 “likes” and 85,000 “shares” – and was a topic of discussion on morning television.

“He was the most polite gentleman I had met,” DePrimo told The New York Times.

DePrimo now keeps the Skechers receipt in his vest, to remind him “that sometimes people have it worse.”

The officer, who said his own feet were freezing that night despite wearing two pairs of socks, also offered the man in need a cup of coffee, but as soon as the boots were on his feet, he went on his way. They never even exchanged names.

This is is what it truly means to serve and protect. Hopefully more police officers will be inspired by this act of kindness.

Valerie Jarrett (fifth from the left in the front), chief White House advisor to President Obama, made a surprise visit to Milwaukee Friday to speak to and fire up canvassers who will be flooding the neighborhoods in the North and Northwest areas of the city to get the vote out for the president. The kick-off event was held at the Obama campaign headquarters at 8550 Brown Deer Rd. Jarrett encouraged the group to tell those undecided voters about the president’s accomplishments and the negative impact a Romney presidency would have on the nation. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)

Milwaukee Food Tours is delighted to host BONE APPETIT, a dog friendly food tour in which tour guests and their owners visit an indoor dog park, a doggie social club for a treat tasting and agility lesson, lunch on a dog-friendly restaurant patio, and a doggie spa for some coffee, dessert and relaxation. Dog treats and toys, lunch, guided-fun and round trip transportation are included in the $60 per person/dog price; guest-only and child pricing is available as well. “We were inspired to create the tour by past tour attendees who have requested a dog-friendly tour through the years, and we thought that National Dog Week would be the perfect time to host Bone Appetit,” says Theresa Nemetz, founder of Milwaukee Food Tours. The special tour will be hosted on Saturday, September 29, 2012 beginning at 10:00 a.m. As with all Milwaukee Food Tours excursions, the guided outing includes commentary about the history of the community.

This tour is for social, vaccinated dogs that enjoy riding in a vehicle. Dogs must show verification that their dogs have received their DHLPP and Rabies shots. Nemetz added, “In anticipation that the dogs don’t know each other, we are meeting at a dog park and will be working with professionals to introduce them. Bathroom breaks will be featured throughout the tour, and each dog will receive a doggie bag filled with treats and toys to entertain them along the way.”

Please visit the “Special Events” page at www.milwaukeefoodtours.com or call 1-800-979-3370 for tour details, to purchase a gift card, schedule a private tour, or reserve your spot on this delicious, tail wagging excursion.

About Milwaukee Food Tours:

Celebrating their 5th anniversary in 2012, Milwaukee Food Tours provides tours by foot and bus to promote Milwaukee’s rich immigrant history and feature locally made foods and drinks. Ideal for locals and tourist, birthday and anniversary celebrations, corporate team-building, and educational field trips, Milwaukee Food Tours offers 1-mile walking neighborhood tours along Brady Street, in the Historic Third Ward, along the RiverWalk/Old World Third Street, in the Village of Wauwatosa and the Historic City of Cedarburg. Participants learn about Milwaukee’s rich history and architecture as well as enjoy delicious tastings from bakeries, meat shops, pizzerias, eateries, cheese and sausage makers and breweries along the way. Popular bus tours include Milwaukee’s Pizza Tour, Churches & Chocolates, and Christmas Around the World Bakery Bus.

About Theresa Nemetz:

Inspired by her great-grandparents who immigrated to Milwaukee, WI from Santa Flavia, Sicily, owner/operator Theresa Nemetz combined her passion for food, tourism and Milwaukee to create Milwaukee Food Tours in 2008 and has hosted thousands of locals and tourists alike on tours. Ms. Nemetz is a Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) as well as the recipient of the 2010 Governor’s Rising Star in Tourism Award.

(Above photo) First Lady Michelle Obama address a crowd of 3,000 supporters during her recent visit to Milwaukee. The rally was held a Bradley Tech High School and encouraged supporters to grow the Obama for America grassroots network. (Photo at left) A supporter enthusiastically cheers during the rally. (photos by Yvonne Kemp)